Car-replacer clamp.



B. J. BUELL.

CAR REPLACER CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, 191a.

Patented Oct. 15, l918.

I! .lnulllmulmzalllullll railed car wheel BENJAMIN J. BUELL, or READING,

oan-nnrnaonn CLAMP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,

BENJAMIN J. BUELL,

a citizen of the United'States, and a res1- dent of Reading, in thecounty of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have made and inventedcertain new and useful Improveof which the invention relates to holdingdevices or clamps commonly referred to as car replacer clamps, and whichare designed-for use with car replacers or rerailers; the purpose ofsuch clamps being to fasten the replacer to the rail and hold the sameprop-' erly and securely in place during the replacin or'rerailingoperation and while a de or wheels are being rethe rails of a railwaytrack, the necessity of securing the the use of-spikes driven the sametime providing.

placed upon thus avoidin replacer in p ace by into the ties and at meanswhereby and quickly put in place and clamped to the stated in which theclamp is rail, and as readily removed from the rail at the completion ofthe rerailing operation.

The objects of my invention are to provide a car replacer clamp for thepurpose thereby secure the replacer proper in place relatively to a railby means of a wedge movable transversely to a clamping bar extendingtransversely to and beneath the rail, and having a hook at one endadapted to engage the base of a car replacer, an abutment at the otherend against which one edge of the wedge acts, and a movable block withwhich the other edge of said wedge en-- gages, to provide a clamp inwhich the clamping bar is bent so that the end thereof at which thewedge operates will be somewhat above the upper surface of theties uponwhich the rail rests; to provide a clamp in which the wedge referred tois permanently connected with or secured to the clamping bar; and toprovide various particular features of advantage in and relating toclamps of the class above referred to.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in theimproved car replacer clamp illustrated in the accompanying drawing andhereinafter described and claimed, and in such variations andmodifications thereof as will be' obvious to those lates.

Specification of Letters Patent.

the replacer may be easily .of my tightened to to be secured upon thPENNSYLVANIA.

Patented ea. 15, 1918.

Application filed June 4, 1918. Serial No. 238,075.

In the drawing accompa ying and forming a part of this specification andwherein the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated:

Figure 1 is a view showing my improved car replacer clamp in use andarranged to hold an ordinary form of car replacer to a rail;-

Fig. 2 is a view showing a section upon a vertical transverselyextending plane indicated by the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 1s a View showing the clamp and 1 in elevation, and

replacer shown in Fig.

to the left of said as seen from a position figure;

Flg.

a is a view showing a section taken upon a vertical longitudinallyextending plane indicated by the line 4-4, Fig. 2';-

Fig. 5 is a view showing a which forms a part of my spective; and I Fig.6 is a View showing the clamping bar device in perspective. 7 Referringto the drawing, the reference numeral 7designates ties of a railwaytrack, and 8 one of the rails thereof; while the reference numeral 9 isapplied to a car replacer designed to be clamped tothe rail 8 by myimproved replacer clamp, resting upon and being supported by the tiesand the inner wall thereof being usually cut .away so that it may extendslightly device, in peroverthe base of the rail, as shown in Fig. 2.

rail, as also shown in Fig. 2, to thereby movable block f space thereplacer as a Whole slightly away from the rail and insure the properlocation of the replacer relatively to the rail when clamped thereto.

My improved replacer ployed for securing any kind of a car replacer to arail, and may be used either with inside or outside replacers. Thereplacer shown in the drawing, however, is an inside replacer, 'i. 0., areplacer designed e inside of a rail and to replace that one of thewheels of a car, locomotive, or other vehicle, which is between the tworails of the track. The replacer illustrated is a double-ended replacer,

and is capable of use in replacmg a vehicle clamp may be emwheelapproaching it from either direction,

although my invention may obviously be placer -it soon reaches a heightof the ridge 11 decreases gradually,

or, as otherwise stated, the bottom wall of the groove 12 rises morerapidly than the upper wall of the ridge. As the wheel travels upthe'tread engaging ridge 11 of the repoint where the flange engages thebottom wall of the groove 12, after which the weight upon the wheel istransferred from the tread to the flange and is-thereafter supported bythe flange.

The ridge and the bottom wall over the groove merge with each other atabout the "point 13, and beyond this pointtoward the center thereof theupper surface of the replacer is so shaped as to provide 'a downwardlyinclined surface sloping toward the head of the rail; the approximateform of this, surface at the central portion of thererailerwhere itattains its maximum inclination being shown at 14, Fig. 2. Before thewheel reaches the highest point of the" replacer, however, it willordinarily have moved sidewise and slid down the inclined surfacethereof at some place between the I point 13 and the middle portion ofthe replacer, and onto the rail, as shown in Fig. 2 As. above stated,however, ,my improved replacer clamp is capable of use with any form ofreplacer, and is not necessarily limited to use with replacers havingthe upwardly projecting tread engaging portion 11, the depressed flangegroove 12, and the laterally inclined portion 14, present in the"replacer illustrated.

My improved replacer clamp comprises. a clamping bar shown by itself inFig. 6,

and to which the reference numeral 15- is applied; the said bar beingpreferably of channel form and having depending sides 16 to therebysecure the requisite strength without unduly increasing the weight thereof. These side flanges extend to the ends of the bar, as best shown inFig. 6, and the said side flanges and the body of the bar are'formedinto an upwardly extending hook 17 at the inner end of the bar, whichhook is adapted to engage the inner edge of the base of the replacer 9,which is ordinarily provided with a flange as shown, to thereby forcethe lugs'10 of the replacer against the web of the rail and hold thereplacer in place relative to the rail, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2of the drawing.

memos The outer end of the clamping bar 15 is provided with an abutment18 extending upward from the bar, which abutment is" provided with agroove 19 the outer wall 20 of which is inclined, as best shown in Fig.

1. The clamping bar 15 is bent slightly at plished, than would be thecase if the clamping bar were traight.

The wedge 22 above referred: to is mov able transversely to the clampingbar in fastening the replacer to the rail and in releasing the replacer.Thiswedge isshown as provided with an inner edge 23 which extendssubstantially at right angles to the bar 15, and with an outer edge 24which is inclined relatively 'to the clamping bar and cooperates withthe inclined wall 20 of the abutment 18, as best shown in,Fig. 1. The

. outer inclined edge of the said wedge therefore moves along the groove19 in securing the replacer to the rail or in releasing the replacer,and the innen edge 23 of said wedge also moves in a groove 25 providedin a block 26carried by and movable longitudinally of the clamping bar15; and this block is preferably and is shown as provided with anoverhanging ledge 27 adapted to fit over the base of the rail, as bestshown in Fig. 2.

.The clamping bar 15 'is provided with a longitudinally extending slot32, and the block 26 is provided with a depending neck 28 of such a sizethat it may rotate'within the slot 32 as well as move longitudinallythereof. The lower end of the neck 28 is. connected with a transverselyextending head 29, the width of which "is not reater than the width ofthe slot 27, and t e free ends of which overlie the edges of the slotwhen the parts are assembled, as shown in Fig. 4. It therefore followsthat when the block 26 is turned-so that the head 29 extendslongitudinally of the slot 32, the head may enter the slot; after whichthe block as a whole may be turned through an angle of 90, to therebybring the head 29 into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4:, in whichthe head extends transversely to the slot and prevents the block frombecoming disengaged from the bar by the action of the wedge.

The slot 32, neck 28, and head 29, obviously provide means for bothguiding the firm engagement with the rail through the the clampingbar,

hook 17 at the inner end of the clamping I bar, as will be understood.

My improved replacer clamp is preferably provided with means forpreventing the wedge from becoming separated from or, as otherwiseexpressed, for maintainmg the bar and wedge permanently associated witheach other, so that the entire clamp forms a single unitary struc-'ture; The preferred form of means for thus holding/the wedge permanentlyconnectedwith'the bar is shown as comprising a slot formed in the wedgeand located'adj acent its inclined edge 2%, and a pin, bolt, orequivalentsecuringmember 31 which extends through a hole provided inthebar 15,

and through the slot 30'; from which it fol lows thatthe bar andwedgeare prevented from becoming separated from each other, and theinclined edge 24 of the wedgeis kept in a position adjacent the inclinedwall 20 of the abutment 18, as the wedge moves transversely to theclamping bar during the clamping or releasing operations.

Having thus described and explained my invention, I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent:

nally thereof,

- clinedflwith reference to said bar; and

abutment located at the other end of said *of said wedge engages.

2. A replacer clamp of the class described 7 1. A replacer clamp'fof theclass described comprising a clamping bar having an up' wardly extendinghook at one end; a block carried by said bar and movable longitudiandwhich block is provided with a groove; a wedge having one edge extendingsubstantially at right angles to said bar and which edge is adapted'to'move within said groove, and a second edge iii-- an bar and having agroove provided with an inclined wall with which the inclined edgecomprising a clamping bar havin an up-, wardly extending hook at one en,and an upwardly extending abutment provided with a groove at its otherend;,a block car' ried by said bar and movable longitudinally thereofand having a groove disposed oppo site the groove in said abutment;means carried by said block and'engaging said bar guiding said block inits movements, and for preventing the same from leaving said bar;

and a wedge movable transversely to said bar-and the side edges of whichare adapted bar; and a wed to engage and move 'in the grooves a'fore- Isaid in said abutment and in said block.

3. A replacer clamp of the class described comprising a clamping barhaving an upwardly extending hook at one end, and an upwardly extendingabutment provided with agroove at its other end; a block carried by saidbar and movable longitudinally thereof and having a groove disposedopposite the groove'in said abutment; means car ried by said block andengaging said bar for guiding said block in its movements, and forpreventing the same from leaving said bar; "a wedge movable transverselyto said bar and the side edges of which are adapted to engage and movein the grooves aforesaid in said abutment and in said block; and

means carried by said bar and engaging said block, and a second edgeinclined with refi erence to said bar, and-which wedge is provided witha longitudinally extending slot located adjacent its inclined dge; anabutment located at the other end of said bar and having a grooveprovided withan in-' clined wall with which the inclined edge of saidwedge engages, and a pin extending across the groove said lug andthrough the slot in said wedge to thereby prevent said wedge frombecoming separated from saidbar. 7 5. A replacer clamp of the classdbscribed comprising a clamp'ing bar having an up- 7 wardly extendinghook at one end, and an upwardly extending abutment provided with agroove clined at its other end; a block carried by said bar and; movablelongitudinally thereof and having a groove disposed opposite the grooveaforesaid inthe outer wall of which is insaid abutment; means carried bysaid block and engaging said bar for guiding said block in its movementsand for preventing the same from leaving said said bar and adapted toengage and move 5111" the groove in said abutment,=an'd a second edgeextending substantially at right angles to said bar and adapted toengage and move in the groove in said block.

6. In a replacer clamp of thd scribed, a. clamping bar havinga long1-tudinally extending slot a block having a neck adapted to rotate withinand move along said slot, and a head greater in length but of less widththan said slot located at the free end of said neck, and which headciass dee movable transversely to avmg an mclined edge is adapted tohold said block in sliding engagement with said bar; a hook-at one endof said bar; and a wedge at the other end of said bar and movabletransversely there- 6 to, and which wedge is adapted to act upon saidblock.

7. In a replacer clamp of the class described, a clamping bar having alongitudinally extending slot; a block having 10 a neck adapted .torotate within and move along said slot, and a head greater in length butof less width than said slot located .at the free end of said neck andwhich head is adapted to hold said block in sliding engagement with saidbar; said block having also a groove extending parallel with said head,and an overhanging ledge located upon the side thereof opposite saidgroove and extending parallel with said head and groove;

1' 2 a hookat one end of said bar; and a wedge at the other end of saidbar and movable transversely thereto, and the edge of which wedge fitswithin the groove aforesaid of said block.

8. A replacer clamp of the class described comprising a clamping barhaving an upwardly extending hook at one end and an abutment at itsother end, and which bar is bent so that the ends thereof extend at anangle to each other; a block carried by said barand movablelongitudinally thereof; a wedge movable transversely to said bar andacting between said abutment 'and said block; and means carried by saidbar and engaging said Wedge to prevent the same from becoming separatedfrom said bar.

9. A replacer clamp of the class described comprising a clamping barhaving an up-- Wardly extending hook at one end and an abutment at itsother end, and which'bar is 40 bent so that the ends thereof extend atan angle to each other; a block carried-by said bar and movablelongitudinally thereof, and whichblock is provided with a groove; aWedge movable transversely to said bar and the edges of Which moveWithin said groove and within a second groove'provided in said abutment,and which wedge is provided with a longitudinally extending slot; and aholding member carried by said bar and extend- 5O ing into said slot tothereby prevent said lgvedge from becoming separated from said Signed atReading, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, this 31stday' of May, A. D., 19.18.

' BENJAMIN J. BUELL.

Witnesses EDWIN S. MILLER, EDITH C. SNYDER.

